History Lesson: Before it was Reitz Hill it was Coal Mine Hill

Daniel Smith
Special to the Courier & Press
Before the construction of Reitz High School, Reitz Hill was the home of a large coal mine and was known as Coal Mine Hill. The first mine at the site, which was owned by Bodium Coal Company, opened in 1858, making one of the earliest mining operations in the state.

Before the construction of Reitz High School, Reitz Hill was the home of a large coal mine known as Coal Mine Hill. 

The first mine at the site, which was owned by Bodium Coal Company, opened in 1858, making one of the earliest mining operations in the state.  

In 1883, the mine was purchased by John Ingle Coal Company, taking the name Ingleside Mine. Coal was removed by hand with the aid of miniature horses and mules. 

The mine produced a bituminous coal, a higher quality coal being used in smithing and metallurgy. Coal was transferred first my barge and later by rail. 

Before the construction of Reitz High School, Reitz Hill was the home of a large coal mine and was known as Coal Mine Hill. The first mine at the site, which was owned by Bodium Coal Company, opened in 1858, making one of the earliest mining operations in the state.

Several mine inspections of the time noted that the mine was relatively safe, compared to other operations at the time.

In September 1893, a fire in the mine killed 11 mules but no miners were killed. Eventually, the mine would reach a depth of 265 feet, even mining below the bend of the Ohio River.  

The mine was closed in 1917.

The hill overlooking downtown Evansville became prime real estate and was chosen as the site of a new west side high school. Reitz Hill supplanted the name. 

This photo can be located at Willard Library. 

History Lesson is a pictorial history of Evansville compiled by Daniel Smith, local history and digitization librarian at the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library.

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